Rockaway Borough Council approves budget with a $152 increase in homeowners’ tax

After weeks of negotiations and a review by the state board, the Municipal Budget for Rockaway Borough was officially amended and passed at the Thursday, May 8, meeting of the Borough Council.

The major increases in the 2014 budget were in Wages and Capital Improvements, Pensions, Police Salary, and Health Benefits.

Homeowners will see a $152 increase to their municipal portions of their tax bill on properties assessed at $300,000. This amount signifies approximately 25 percent of the tax bill with the rest split between the schools and the county.

Increases for current funds with anticipated revenues for 2014 include: Surplus Anticipated which has gone from $237,860 to $314,721. Miscellaneous Revenues (Reserve to pay Debt Service) was up $65,087. Special Items of General Revenue Anticipated also showed an increase of $65,087. Total Miscellaneous Revenues went from $1,249,284 to 1,391,232. In all, the total General Revenues went from $7,811,631 to $7,953,579 showing an increase of $141,948 compared to 2013.

In Current Fund Appropriations, increases are: General Appropriations, Capitol Improvements (Excluded from "Caps") Capitol Improvement Fund went from $20,000 to $161,948. Total Capitol Improvements (Excluded from "Caps") went from $95,900 to $237,848. Total General Appropriations for Municipal Purposes (Excluded from "Caps") had an increase of $141,948. Total General Appropriations (Excluded from "Caps") also shows an increase of $141,948. In all, the total General Appropriations went from $7,811,631 to $7,953,579 compared to 2013.

Dedicated Revenues from Water Utility Operating Surplus Anticipated went from $55,000 to $9,644. Special Items of General Revenue Anticipated include Rents-Rate Increase (Under Ordinance #11-13) increased from $301,606 to $330,000; Public Employees Retirement System decreased from $35,000 to $22,000. In all, the total Water Utility Appropriations went from $1,741,606 to 1,728,606.

In closing, Councilman Joseph Vicente was still against passing the budget, and voted no, saying that the figures were different from what was first presented earlier in the year.

In further news, Rockaway Borough passed a proclamation for May to raise awareness of a disease called fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva. The disease is described as bone forming in the muscles and connective tissue, creating an extra skeleton that immobilizes the body and stops normal development. It usually effects children in the first or second decade of life, and is diagnosed by the age of 10. It is estimated that 2,500 people are affected worldwide, with 12 of those cases being diagnosed in New Jersey.

Edward Wacks, Rockaway Borough attorney, issued a public warning about a scam. People are calling residents and telling them that they missed an appointment for jury duty, and for a fee, they would take care of it. Wacks warned that unless you receive an official notice, there is no authenticity to the phone calls and residents should simply say "no thank you" and hang up.

In resolutions passed that evening, Rockaway Borough has formed an agreement with the Township of Randolph for animal control services in the amount of $10,700 for the year of 2014.

Other resolutions included the authorized sale of surplus personal property to the Township of Rockaway at 65 Mt Hope Road in Rockaway Township for $10,000.

Lastly, the borough has issued a Taxicab/Livery Driver’s License and License to Operate to John F. Guerra of Boro Limousine located at 120 Franklin Ave., effective from June 1, 2014, to May 31, 2015.